Pirates, red-hot Alvarez close out set vs. Brewers

Baseball Betting Lines

07/22/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Led by Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh's offense has exploded since the All-Star break. Seems that Milwaukee ace Yovani Gallardo is coming back at just the right time.

Gallardo is set to make his first start in nearly three weeks as the Brewers try to earn a split of their four-game series with the Pirates at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh has scored nine or more runs in four of six games since the Mid- Summer classic, winning four of those contests. After plating nine runs in the first inning of yesterday's 11-9 triumph, the Pirates pounded out 18 hits in a 15-3 victory last night. It marked the first time the Buccos have plated 15 runs since Sept. 17, 2008 and they have notched at least 17 hits in three of their last five games.

"They've been swinging the bats pretty well," Brewers manager Ken Macha said of the Pirates. "We came in here and held them to one run [Monday] night. In the last two nights, you make mistakes or your pitch selection is bad ... that's what happens."

Alvarez has been a big part of that. The third baseman notched a pair of homers for the second straight game and is batting .389 (14-for-36) over his last nine games with five homers and 11 RBI. He also became the first Pirates rookie to notch back-to-back multi-homer games.

Delwyn Young highlighted a six-run fourth inning with a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs in all on three hits, while starter Zach Duke picked up his first victory since May 18 by pitching six-plus innings and allowing three runs, two of those earned.

Pittsburgh didn't come out of last night's game unscathed though as catcher Ryan Doumit left after three innings due to nausea and lightheadedness stemming from a first-inning collision at the plate with Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks.

Andrew McCutchen also did not start for a third game in a row due to a right shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will get to take his swings tonight against Gallardo, who will come off the disabled list to make his first start since July 4.

Gallardo has been out with a right oblique strain suffered that day in a loss to the Cardinals. He gave up six runs, only one earned, on five hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings before his exit, falling to 8-4 on the season with a 2.58 earned run average.

"I was lucky enough that it was a minor thing," Gallardo told MLB.com "The way that I felt that Sunday when I came out of the game, I felt like it was going to be a lot worse. But it got better every day."

The right-hander, who was forced to miss the All-Star Game due to the injury, has dominated the Pirates in two starts this year, yielding just two unearned runs over 11 innings while striking out 14 in a pair of victories. Gallardo, 24, is 5-2 with a 2.38 ERA in 10 career outings versus the Pirates, nine of those starts, and 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA in nine road starts this year.

He'll try to fare better than last night's starter, Randy Wolf, who allowed 12 runs on 13 hits -- both career highs -- over 5 2/3 innings. Milwaukee starters have now allowed at least 10 runs in three of their last four games. The Brewers have lost three of those games and are 3-4 on an eight-game road trip to begin the second half.

The post All-Star schedule hasn't been kind to Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf, who lasted a career-low 1 1/3 innings on Saturday versus the Astros and gave up four runs on five hits and two walks. The 27-year-old did not get a decision after his offense bailed him out in a 12-6 victory.

"He just struggled," Pirates manager John Russell told his club's website. "Bad temp. Bad location. Ball was up. Everything that could go wrong, [went] wrong."

The right-handed Ohlendorf is just 1-7 with a 4.62 ERA on the season and 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA in three career starts versus the Brewers.

The Pirates have still lost nine of 14 versus the Brewers this year, including five of eight at home.

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.